Spring has sprung and wineries in Niagara are releasing their aromatic white wines (and some reds) at an alarming rate as the annual onslaught of thirsty visitors pour into the region.
We have new reviews for Riverview Cellars, Reif Estate, Inniskillin and King’s Court.
The availability of these wines are through the winery, online or LCBO as noted or at the online Niagara retailer WineSplash (except for the Inniskillin wines). You can find the King’s Court wines here.
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Riverview Cellars Pinot Grigio 2011 ($14, winery, 89 points) — A lovely nose of fresh pear, melon, apple and honeysuckle. The quince on the palate is joined by a squirt of citrus to offer up a fresh and flavourful summer wine.
Riverview Cellars Gewurztraminer 2011 ($19, Vintages, winery, 90 points) — Riverview has proven itself as a leader with this varietal in Niagara. And this is a great example of the style that does best here. Notes of musk oil, grapefruit, rose petals and ginger on the nose. It has an oily texture on the palate but crafted with enough juicy acidity to bring out the grapefruit-citrus notes and interesting nutmeg and ginger spices. Perfect with spicy Asian foods.
Riverview Cellars Riesling 2011 ($17, winery, 88 points) — A nose of lemon-lime, quince, green apples and a subtle minerality. There’s just a touch of sweetness on the palate and balanced out by racy acidity to let the citrus and nectarine flavours dance on the palate. A sweet petrol note is just beginning to emerge.
Riverview Cellars Riesling/Gewurztraminer 2011 ($14, winery, 87 points) — Spicy grapefruit, lychee nut, citrus and zesty orange rind notes on the nose. It’s made in off-dry style but still maintains a core of juicy and refreshing citrus fruits and exotic spices. Good little summer sipper.
Riverview Cellars Pinot Noir 2011 ($20, winery, 87 points) — The nose shows cherry-berry aromas with a splash of cassis, vanilla spice and charred oak. It’s a mid-weight Pinot with a bit of earthiness on the palate to go with cherry fruit and spice.
Riverview Cellars Rosso/Cabernet Merlot 2011 ($16, winery, 87 points) — A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cab Franc that shows strawberry, cherry, currant and dark plum fruits on the nose with a touch of spice. It’s forward and flavourful on the palate with nice bits of licorice and cinnamon spice to go with an array of red and dark fruits.
Riverview Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 ($17, winery, 86 points) — The aromas range from currants and raspberry to spice, pipe tobacco and licorice. A lot going here on the palate of this medium-weight Cab with fruits and spice in a well-balanced approach.
Riverview Cellars Merlot 2011 ($20, winery, 88 points) — An expressive nose of black cherries, blackberry, oak spices and vanilla. Fairly good structure through the finish with pure red fruits, black licorice, oak spice and integration on the palate. Well balanced now but can take some cellaring for two or three years.
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Inniskillin Niagara Estate Riesling 2011 ($13, LCBO, 87 points) — Made in a clean, crisp style with green apple, citrus and summer peach aromas. Feels dry on the palate but made with a touch of residual sugar to balance out the racy lemon-citrus fruits on the palate that work well with the peach and apple accents. Good summer Riesling.
Inniskillin Niagara Estate Pinot Noir Rose 2012 ($15, LCBO, 87 points) — A bright nose of cherry, strawberry and rhubarb fruits that jump out of the glass. On the palate it’s all about fresh red fruits that will fit nicely beside light summer meals on the patio.
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Reif Estate Pinot Grigio 2011 ($17, 88 points) — Fresh melon, citrus and apple fruit on the nose. It has a zesty-zippy feel on the palate with fresh citrus and orchard fruit flavours. Good, refreshing style of Grigio.
Reif Estate Chenin Blanc 2011 ($20, 87 points) — One of only a few Chenins made in Niagara. There is a lovely floral note on the nose to go with melon, grapefruit and honey. In the mouth, the citrus and apple-pear fruits are balanced by a racy core of acidity.
Reif Estate The Empress Chardonnay 2011 ($13, 86 points) — This is an unoaked Chard with a clean nose of zesty citrus and ripe pineapple. It’s a fresh and simple but an enjoyable picnic sipper with clean varietal fruit nonetheless.
Reif Estate White Meritage 2010 ($20, 89 points) — A Bordeaux-style blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon with an expressive nose of spiced apple, pear, grapefruit and light garden herbs. It has nice weight on the palate with ripe, spicy fruit and decent verve through the finish. It’s a very tasty wine with light oak spice and pear-apple fruit. Serve with seafood.
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King’s Court Dry Riesling 2011 ($13, online, 88 points) — Lovely apple-citrus fruits, grapefruit, a hint of minerality and fresh white flowers on the nose. It’s bone dry on the palate with racy acidity, crisp lemon-lime and slate minerality. A dry, austere summer sipper.
King’s Court Cabernet Franc Icewine 2008 ($39 for 375 ml, online, 92 points) — A nose of bold cherry liqueur, compoted raspberry with notes of caramel and nuts just beginning to emerge in this maturing and lovely icewine. The mouth reveals super-concentrated, super-sweet red fruits, baked brown sugar, warm honey, roasted nuts and just enough acid to give it balance through the finish.
King’s Court Wild Blueberry Wine 2010 ($15, online, 90 points) — A nose of thick blueberry, currants and other sweet dark fruits. It is thick and rich with concentrated blueberry and bramble with a touch of cassis and kirsch. Not crazy-sweet, but just right. A well-made fruit wine.
King’s Court Apple Wine is FAB-U-LOUS – brought it to a wedding in Feb (in Niagara) for “apres” wedding celebrations – and shared among family, everyone had the same reaction – “wow where did you get this?” (Which is cool)
Looking forward to trying the blueberry and the 2012 Sauvignon blanc which just won an award (dang… I had a bottle and gave it away for a bday present before I knew THIS of course, will have to procure another one!)
http://www.ontario-wine.com/our-wines/?sort=product_cat&product_cat=fruit-wine